Tube-forming machine.



F. 1. JARECKI. TUBE FORMING MACHINE. APPucATloN man 1uNE|2.191V6.

Patented Dee. 24, 1918.

, 7 SHEETS-SHEET I.

F.1.JARECKL TUBE FORMING MACHINE.

APPLxcATloN FlLED'1uNE12,191e.

1,288,603 Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

ZSHEETSrSHEET 3.

aH/l/Ja//ec/f/ @Wam/X WM F. l. JARECKI.

TUBE FORMING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED1UNE| 2.191@.

1,288,693., Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

fig; l.,

F.1,J'AHECKL TUBE FORIVHNG MACHINE. APPLICATION man JUNE l2. 19|@ F.1.JARECKL TUBE FORMING MACHINE.

APPLlc/ILON HLEDJUNUZ, 1916.

Lg Patented Dec. 24,1918.

ZlSHEETS-SHEET 5.

@Wm @M y entre sacarse earner onirica.

FRANK J. JARECKI, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

TUBE-'FORMING MACHINE.

Application ied .Tune 12, 1916.

To IZ whom it may concern.'

Ile it known that I, FRANK J. Jainccki, a citizen of the United States of America. residing at (ii-and Rapids. in the county of Kent and State of Michigan. have invented certain new and useful Improvements .in Tiilie-l iiiiiiig Machines, and I do hereby declare the following to be a full` clear, and exact description of theA invention, suc-h as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a metal forming machine it being a primary object and purpose of the invention to produce a machine in which strips of flat metal may be formed into tubes and a joint made at the edges of the metal which is absolutely locked against separation and at the same time formed so that the linished tube presents on its outside a smooth surface without any ridge to indicate the position of the joint or seam, the machine also being adapted to make many other forms. A further object of the invention 4consists in the provision of means for withdrawing the tube or other structure from the machine this withdrawing means rendering itI possible to make tubes or the like of any length and not requiring long strips of metal for operation of the machine.

.Still further objects of the invention consist in the provision of novel mechanism for making the locking seam, novel construction to permit the adjustment of the, seam forming. rollersl for dilferent thicknesscs of metal. and in .'arious other no vel features of construction and arrangement of parts all of which will fully appear in the. following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine.'

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation from the opposite side of the machine.

' Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof, certain parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary' plan view showing a set of rollers and forming members for forming metal strips into'u another shape.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the arbor or maiidrel around which the tube is formed.

Fig. 6 shows a side elevation and end View of the form produced by the mechanism shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig.; 6 of the tube which is formed by 'the' mechanism shown in 1-3 inclusive.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 24, 1918.

Serial No. 103.201.

Fig. S is an end elevation of the arbor or mandrel.

Fig. i) is a plan view. enlarged, of the seam forming mechanism.

opposite direction orv against the outer rolls.

Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section, enlarged, through the rear part of the seam forming mechanism.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged elevation of the finishing elements of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 15, 16. and 1T are elevations of the. consecutive bending and forming rolls which act upon the metal strip to bend it into tubular form before it reaches the seam forming mechanism.

Fig. 18 is a vertical transverse section through the member which supports the arbor or mandrel.

Fig. 19 is a front end elevation of the seam foi'iiiing mechanism showing the action of said mechanism in aiding in forming a tube. u

Figs. 20. 21. and 22 are viewsl showing consecutive steps in the progress of forming the seams.

Fig. 23 is an elevation from the front end of the withdrawing mechanism the suiiport-I through the mandrel at the position of the last. rollers mounted in said mandrel.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

A bed 1, preferably of 'cast iron, is used on which to mount, the various forming rollers, and seam forming device it being supported by end posts 2. A shaft 3 is mounted speed.

in bearings and extends transversely under the bed 1, a wheel al being lixed on the rear end of the shaft. A belt 5 adapted to be driven by any suitable engine, motor or other source of power passes around wheel al. pinion 6 is fastened to shaft 3 closely adjacent wheel +1 and meshes with a gear 7 fixed to the rear end of a shaft 8 which extends through the bed 1. A gear 9 of less size. than gear 7 is fixed to shaft 8 immediately back of the bed, itin turn having engagement with a gear 10 of the same size as gear 9 directly above it which is mounted on a shaftll this shaft also extending through the bed 1. Gear 9 also engages with idle pinions 12 and 13 one at either side of the gear as shown in Fig. 2, such pinions meshing with gears 14; and 15 mounted on the rear ends of vshafts 16 and 17 of the same size as gears 9 and 10. Directly above and engag ing with gears lat and 15, respectively, are

vgears 1S and.19 fixed on the rear ends of shafts 20 and 21. Shafts 16, 17, 20 and 21 extend through to the front side of the bed and shafts 20, 11 and 21 lie in the same horizontal plane and directly above shafts 16, 8, and 17 respectively, which also lie in the same horizontal plane. The gear 15 drives an idle gear 22 as shown in Fig. 2 which in turn engages with a gear mounted on the rear end of a shaft 24 in the same horizontal plane with shafts 16, 8, and 17. Gear 23 engages with and'drives a gear directly above which is fixed on the rear end of a shaft 26, this shaft lying in the same plane with shafts 20, 11, and 21. Shafts 24 and 25 also extend to the front of the bed and the gears 23 and 25 thereon are of the same sizes as the gears on shafts 1G, 20, 11, 8, 21 and 17 so that each of these shafts extending through the bed is driven at the same rate of The upperI shafts are mounted in suitable adjustable bearings 27.

On the forward ends of shafts 1G and 20 are mounted rolls 28 and 29 one below the other, the former of which at its rear is provided with a flange 30 having au inclined face as shown in Fig. 15 which is formed as a complement. of the beveled part 31 at the rear of the upper roll 29. Similarly the upper roll 29 has a flange 32 with a rear inclined face formed as a complement to the beveled front portion of the lower roller 28. The second pair of shafts 8 and 11 on their frontl ends carry lower and upper rollers 34 and 35, the former of which has a concave surface and the latter a convex surface adapted to fit in said concave surface of roll 34. The next pair of shafts 17 and 21 also carry rolls 36 and 37. The former is of considerable width and formed' with a conca-ve surface while the latter is much narrower and has ai convex surface as best Aillustrated in Fig. 1.7. A feeding `table 38 is supported at the forward aida and end of the bed and ,has spaced apart guides 39 between which the metal strip 10 which is to be formed into a tube is fed to the machine, it entering tirst between rollers 23 and 29 passing therefrom tov rollers 31 and 35 and thence to rollers 3G and 37. The first pair of rollers form lips 411 and 42, as shown in Fig. 15, at opposite edges of the strip and turned at an angle in opposite directions. The other rollers serve to bendthe metal lengthwise and by successive steps the metal strip approaches the form of a tube. Between the lfirst pair of rollers 28 and 29 and the second pair 31 and 35 suitable guides 13 carried by brackets 1l adjustably mounted on the front of the bed are provided to pass the strip properly from one pair of rollers to the other and, similarly, between the second pair of rollers 31 and and the third pair of rollers 36 and 37, euides 15 and 1G carried by brackets 47 which are also adjustably mounted on the front face of the bed 1, are also provided for the same purpose. l

y The-metal as it passes from rollers 36 and 37 enters between plates 18 and 4:9 spaced apart and carried onva lower plate 50 secured in any suitable manner to the front of bed l. These plates incline toward each other from their'front to their rear ends and as the metal strip passes by them its edges are brought more and more closely together. The plate 418 at its inner side is properly formed to receive the lip `12 bent at one edge of the metal strip as shown in Fig. 18. Av mandrel or arbor 51 substantially cylindrical in form lies between plates 43 and 19 and is partially received in aeoncave depression formed in the plate 50 this mandrel being of such a size in respect to the depression that the metal strip may pass between it, plate 50 and plates 48 and 45), it being in this manner formed at its under side as a cylinder. At its front end and on its upper side, the mandrel has an integral member 52 tapering gradually toward the rear and coming to a point, the taper being the same as the inclination of parts 4S and L19 toward each other whereby the edges of the metal strip are forced as they pass bctween said members 48 and L19 to approach each other. The mandrel is supported at. its front end by a block attached to a bracket 5-1 secured to the bed 1. rlhe metal strip now substantially in the form of a tube, passes from parts 143 and 4S) to the seam formingv mechanism device which is supported en a bracket secured to the front face of bed 1. fl`wo bars 5G and 5(32 one located in front of the other, lie upon the bracket and are connected thereto. At the front ends of the blocks rollers 57 and 5S are mounted on vertical spindles, the former a little ahead of the latter` 'both rollers having concave surfaces thccurva- EUR. ol' which is the saine as that ot' the loro lessees tube to be formed while the roller 57 has an upper flange 59 over which the lip l2 is guided as shown in Fig. 19. The opposite edge and lip l1 of the metal strip el() is forced over lip 42 by the upper flange of roller 58. Directly back ot roller 57 and mounted 0n the forward bar 56 is a roller 60 positioned on anincline as shown and located so as t0 force the lip 4l againstlip 42 as the metal passes by it passing therefrom 'to2 a roller 62 directly back of roller 60 which has a flange 68 so formed and shaped as to turn the lip l1 t@ overlap lip 42 as illust-rated in Fig. 20. there being a block 6l secured directly opposite this roller for the metal of the tube directly opposite the ange 63 to bear against. Back of roller 62 is a roller 64e mounted on a vertical axis and having at its under side a flange 6ta.

Coperating with said roller is e roller 65 mounted on the opposite bar 56EL at an angle more nearly approaching` the vertical than roller 62, and acting with the flange Gla to turn the seam farther over as shown in Fig. 2l. Positioned .along the length ot' the mandrel on its upper side are a number oi bea-ring rollers 66 with convex surfaces which come directly underneath the seam forming rollers in this manner eliminating considerable friction which would otherwise be present. Back of the rollers 66 in the mandrel is another roller 67 of substan ally the. same diameter but having a concave groove 68 therein into which the yseam formed by the interlocking of lips 4l and 42 is pressed by a roller 69 mounted on a block on ahorizontal axis, directly above roller 67. The seam in this manner is pressed down below the outer surface of the tube so that the completed tube presents a smooth outer surface. In Fig. 13 l have shown the roller 69 mounted on the .bearing 70 carried eccentrically on a pin 71 this roller 69 as well the various other rollers described being thus mounted to provide an easy adjustment of the rollers toward or from @ach other for different thicknesses of metal the pins such as illustrated at 71 being held in adjusted position by set screws such as shown. Furthermore for easy passage ol' the tube of metal between the bars 56 and 56a I have mounted rollers 72 formed with concave surfaces to fit the under side of the tube and such rollers may valso be adjusted in the same manner by means or' the same eccentric mount. The tube as it passes from the seam forming device follows the mandrel which is provided with a groove 68a between the t'ront and rear rollers 87 to pass the seam which has been pressed down below the outer surface otl the tube and finally passes between the lower and uppc rollers 24a and 26a secured on the front ends of the shafts 24 and 26. These rollervsghave concave grooves formed in their surfaces to fit tbe tube that passes between them. and the upper roller bearing against the lock seam forces it farther into the groove 68 ot' the roller 67 which is mounted at the end of the mandrel 5l. The tube as it leaves these rollers is absolutely smooth without any ridge to indicate the presence of a joint or seam in the tube.

Strips of metal passed through the maof any length', long or short, l have provided a -device 'which is operable to engage with a portion of the tube passed beyond rollers 2l and 26a to graspt and pull the unlinished portion from the machine.

The support for this device comprises a horizontal T-bar 73 attached at its front end to the bed 1 and supported at its rear end by an upright 7l. Slidafbly mounted on the bar are upper and lower bars 75 and 76 which are fastened together sp as to move in unison by a plate 77. The bar 75 in its under side is formed with a concave groove 78 semi-circular in cross section and of a dialneter slightly less than the outside diameter or' the Atube formed by the machine. Below groove 78 a similar groove 7 9 is formed in a bar 80 which lies upon and is supported by the sleeves 8l pivot'ally mounted upon studs 82 and 83 projecting outwardly from the bar 76. Sleeves 8l are formed with cam projections so that on rotation thereof the bar 80 is elevated and brought closer to the bar 75 in this manner grasping any tube that has been entered into Ethe opening made by thc grooves 78 and 79. A lever 84 is preferably t'ormed integral with the forward sleeve and extends upwardly as shown in Fig. 1, a bar 85 being pivotally connected thereto a distance below its upper end, extending to the rear and having pivotal connection with the upper end of another lever 8G Jformed integral with the other sleeve 8l mounted on pin 83. At its upper end lever 84 has pivotal connection with a sleeve 87 slidably mounted upon a rod 88 which is mounted lengthwise of the machine for slidable movement in supports 89 and 90, the latter being 'positioned at the front ot' the bed l. Sleeve 87 normally is in Contact with a collar 91 adjustably mounted upon rod 88 and a coil spring 92 surrounds the rod 88 between the collar 91 and support 89 being secured Aat its ends to said members the tendency ot' which is to hold rod 88 in its normal position shown in Fig. l. At its rear end rod 88 has a stop collar 93 adjustably mounted thereon and at either side ot' the forward support 90 stop collars 91- are also adjustably mounted upon the rod.

A member 95 is slid'ably mounted in the. upper side ot' bar 75 at its rear end having,` an upright projection 95a to which the rear end of a bar 96 is pivotally connected, said bar at its t'orward end being pivotally connected to the lever S1 heretofore described Member 95 is provided with a diagonal slot 97 in which a pin carried at the end ot' a lever 98 seats, said lever being secured to the upper end ot` a vertical shaft 99 pivotally mounted in a suitable bearing on the plate 7T. A lever 100 is Jfastened to the lower end ot shaft 99 and a short-v distance. to the tront connects with a collar 101 'lomed with a clutch face 102 and splined on the stud shaft 103 which is carried by the plate 77 previously described, projecting; to the reartherefrom. A sl'iroeket wheel 104 is loosely mounted on this shaft it. also 'being provided with a clutch face 105 adapted for engagement with the clutch t'ace 102 but normally disengaged therefrom.

Meshing with gear 221 is an idle pinion 106 which drives gear 107 secured to the end ot' a shaft 108, this sha'ltbeingr mounted in suitable bearings secured to the rear end of the bed'l. A sprocket wheel 109 is seeured.to the forward end ot' this shaft and an endless sprocket chain 110 passes around sprocket wheel 109 and also around a sprocket wheel 111 mounted upon the upright support T1. The upper run ot the sprocket. chain 110 passes over and engages with the teeth ot sprocket wheel 101. it beingA evident that when the machine is in operation sprocket chain. 110 is in continuous movement and that the sprocket wheel 10-1- turns continuously. A block 112 projects upwardlj.' t'roni the member 75. as shown in Fig'. 1 and to this block the. end ot a chain 113 is secured, it passing' around a sprocket wheel ll-l rotatably mounted on the bed l, thence to the rear and over tfhe idle sprocket wheel 115 rotatably mounted on the upper end ot' upriglrt` 7l and thence down and around a Sprocket wheel 11G rotatably mounted upon a. short, shaft 117 which is carried by ears 118 projecting upwardly trom a weight 119` the chain finally terminating; at the bar 725 as shown in Fig. 1 and beine' secured to this bar. Below the weight 119 any preferred type ot' stop or bumper 120 may be placed.

1n operation atter a length oi" tubing;h has been formed and extended into the grooves at 78 and 79 between bars 75 and S0. and the metal from which the tube is formed has passed beyond rollers 36 and 3T, the operator grasps the handle on the Jforward end of the rod 88 and pushes the rod until stop 94. contacts with support. 90. .f\s this operation takes place the turning of cam sleeves S1 elevates bar 8O so that the tube is 2efrasped between said ba' and the upper bar 75. At the same time bar 95 is moved to the rear causing the rotation of lever 98 and ot shaft 99 connected thereto, by reason ot' the diagonal format-ion of slot 97 in the: bar 95. The rotation of the shaft 99 throws lever 100 and collar 101 toward the sprocket wheel 101, clutch members 102 and 103 therefrom engaging' with each other. As sprocketwheel 101 is continuously rotating` the etl'eet ot this engagement. is to cause the entire device to move along the supporting T-bar T3 toward thel upright 71 it being apparent that, as this movement takes place, the end otl the material still remaining in the tube forming portion ot' the machine is withdrawn therefrom. The movement ot' the device. alongI har T3 continues until sleeve 87 strikes against stopA eollar93 whereupon lever 81 and the members associated therewith are carried to their normal position,

shown in Fig. 1, and clutch members 102 and.`

109 are disengaged. llleie'ht 119.y elevated during this operation returns the device to its normal position against the rear end ot bed 1 whereupon the operation may be repeated when desired.

The machine is also adapted to turn other forms than the tube described. 1n Fig. 1 there is shown a series ot' rolls for forming a ditl'erent form from that heretofore described. A strip ot' metal passes'between the upper and lower rolls 121 and 122'e'oing thence to the second pair ot rolls 123 and 12sL being' shaped by such rolls into a channel. 'l`he channel is carried to a third pair ot' rolls comprising an upper roll 125 having a central annular rib 12T which engages with a lower roll 12S whereby the metal is made to approach the torni shown in Fig. (l, the edges ot' the metal strip being turned upwardl)Y as indicated at 129 while the central portion ofthe strip is formed with outward bends 130. To complete this torni the metal passes trom the last. pair ot' rolls being: guided by members 131 having downwardly turned lingers 132 which enter between the upturned edges 129 previously described. lilembers 191 are fastened in spaced apart relation to a supporting block 1321 which is secured to the trent face ot' the bed 1 and near the rear end of the supportingl block a pair ot' forming' rol-ls 1311 best shown in Fig. 1-/1- are mounted at an angle to the vertical and engage against each side ot the metal to complete. its t'orm. As thus Jformed it passes under the roller 1235 having a central annular rib 1311 which enters between the upstanding edges 129 and below the roller 135 a companion roller formed to engage theI under side ot the lmetal as it passes from the machine. 'may be positioned. pulling tubes from the machine may be used with this term quite as well, the only altera- The device for.

tion necessary being to provide grooves in 'oars 75 and 8O of a. shape to fit the particular form of metal structure made by the machine.

A modification in the seam forming mechanism is shown in Figs. 25 to 35 inclusive. 1n this structure a bar 137 is secured to the front face of the bed back of the rollers 3G and 37. Secured to and in front of bar 137 is a bar 138. A bracket 139 is suitably supported at the front ends and above Said bars to which the front end of a cylindrical mandrel 140 is fastened by the screw 141, said mandrel extending tothe rear and passing between bars 137 and 138 which are formed to permit this passage and leave a space so that the metal of which the tube is formed may pass between the mandrel and said bars. This mandrel on its upper side has a rearwardly tapering element 142 serving the same purpose as the part 52 on mandrel 51 in the previously described construction. The metal strip pass` ing under this device around the mandrel comes first to a concave roller 143 located below the mandrel and between bars 137 and 138 there being mounted in the under side of the mandrel a small roller 144. 1t now passes to two rollers 145 and 146 set on an incline and serving to first engage the two lips 41 and 42 at the edges of the strip 4() and directly belowthese rollers is positioned a horizontal roller 147 set in the upper side of the mandrel. The metal is next engaged by rollers 148 and 149 of the Jformation shown in Fig. 30 which are set oppositely on the two bars 137 and 138 and at different angles to the vertical, serving to further engage and bend lips 41 and 42 to make the seam. The seam is then further formed by oppositely disposed rollers 150, 151, 152, and 153 there being a progressive forming of the seam to more closely approach the finished product as it is acted upon by the successive rollers; and it will be observed, under all of these rollers there is mounted one of the small anti-friction rollers 147 previously described, each of said rollers having a convex surface the radius of curvature of which is identical with the curvature of the mandrel. As the seam passes from rollers 152 and 153 it is practically formed except for crushing it down below the outer surface of the tube.

This is effected by two rollers 154 mounted.

on bar 137 as shown in Fig. each having a concave surface which comes directly above a similar surface in a small roller 155 mounted in the mandrel. 1t is apparent that the seam is forced into the concavity of the rollers 155 mounted below rollers 154. The tube practically complete leaves the seam forming device to be engaged by the rollers 26EL and 24n which are mounted above and bclow the small rollers 156 and 157 located near the end of the mandrel and within the body thereof, it being apparent that the upper roller 156 must have a concave surface and that the end of the mandrel must be grooved as shown at 158 for the portion of,V

its rear length to permit the passage of the seam in the tube.

The foregoing construction of lock seam forming mechanism is a preferred construction as with it the seam may be formed perfectly to the extreme end of the tube while in that shown in Figs. 9 to 22 inclusive about one inch in the last end of the tube is not perfectly formed. The method of forming the seam is practically identical in both constructions though there is in the last construction greater freedom froln friction in the 'provision of the plurality of rollers 147 and also the plurality of rollers 14K-i and 144 associat' .l with theI mandrel which aid the passage of the metal thereover and eliminate friction as far as it is possible.

l claim 1. In a device of the character described, means for bending a strip of metal into tubular form, means for interlocking the side edges of said strip to make a seam extending the length of the tube, means for driving said tube forming means, means for grasping a tube and withdrawing it from the seam forming means, said withdrawing means being normally disconnected from the driving means, and operatorcontrolled means for connecting said withdrawing means with the driving means.

2. ln a device of the character described, means for bending a strip of metal into tubular form, means for interlocking the side edges of said strip to make a seam eX- tending the length of the tube, means for driving said tube-forming means, means for grasping a tube and withdrawing it from the seam-forming means, said withdrawing means being nori'nally disconnected from the driving means, operator-controlled means for connecting said withdrawing means with the driving means, and means for automatically disconnecting the. driving means from said withdrawing means on completion of a pre(letermined movement of said i'neans.

i. In combination, a support, means mounted on the support adapted to bend a strip ofvnietal into tubular form, means to drive said tube forming means, means on the support. adapted to interlock the side, edges of said tube and make a longitudinal seam therein, a bar extending from the rear end of the support, a device slidably mounted thereon into which a tube is adapted to enter, operater-controlled elements in said device adapted to grasp the tube, and means rendered effective simultaneously with the grasping of the tube for connecting said device with the driving means to move the device along the bar away from the support, substantially as described.

neetions between the clutch member and said Inst mentioned lever, n sproekel wheel looely mounted 0n sind lust mentioned shalt, :in endlesb; s )r'oeket elnlm lying long lgtliw'ise of the supporting bzu' having one rim engngrinewith thesproeket wheel, means to drive .sguid chain, :1nd :l eluteh memliel' in 'lle sprocket wheel adapted to he engaged by said first elul'ch member on operation of the operating rodsubstnnfiull :is described.

In testimony whereof I ullix my signuture.

FRANK J. J All l l(l\' l. 

